Paralegal - Transactions & Land Use

Under moderate supervision or under supervision of attorneys, provides routine paralegal support. Screens, reviews, analyzes and organizes files required for client representation. Drafts various contract related and client materials. Coordinates the work with secretarial support staff.

This is the first in a series of two paralegal-related job classifications within the Administrative Support job family. This classification is distinguished from the Paralegal Senior in that incumbents do not supervise other Paralegals or serve as the primary agent in the research and drafting of legal memoranda on substantive and procedural legal topics. Sensitivity to detail and confidentiality. Customer and client contact. This classification may require work in secure facilities.

• Prepares and organizes land use/real estate and transaction documents. 
• Retrieves information from computer to assist case documentation. 
• Contacts office staff, Court personnel, employees from other agencies and others, as required to obtain information needed. 
• Reviews, screens, and analyzes materials for assigned matters. Processes documents, including preparation, filing and issuance of information.
• Obtains, indexes and outlines other relevant documents.
• Coordinates and schedules meetings, closings, and other matters. Maintains calendars. Responds to inquiries related to the cases pending and returns messages for assigned attorneys. Maintains personal time and billing records. 
• Maintains statistical records and prepares reports. Responds to inquiries related to the pending cases and returns messages for assigned attorney(s). 
• Communicates with office staff, adverse counsel and staff, Court Clerks and personnel, and other Travis County employees.
• May select, train and supervise clerical support staff, including reviewing prepared files and documents.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration or a directly related field AND two (2) years experience as a paralegal;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Paralegal Certificate from a professionally recognized Paralegal/Legal Assistant program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Law office management and administration.
• Open meetings laws and Public Information Act.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to Court system.
• Discovery process.
• Current legal trends in the interaction of law and professional ethics.
• Statistical and record keeping applications, including databases and spreadsheets.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

• Acquiring, maintaining, organizing, analyzing and summarizing case evidence.
• Understanding legal terminology and English grammar.
• Case file examination for documentation accuracy.
• Operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer.
• Both verbal and written communication.

• Train and supervise clerical and administrative employees.
• Accurately and succinctly summarize legal information.
• Perform legal research.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, judges, attorneys, Court personnel, other participants in the civil justice system, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to sitting, client/customer contact, standing, walking, vision to monitor, repetitive motion, stooping/kneeling, squatting, bending, and reaching to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday -Friday. May work some holidays, some nights, some weekends

Location: 314 W. 11th Street, Ste. 300, Austin, TX 78701

Department: County Attorney

Criminal background check, Driving, Education,Employment verification required.